Straight answers to the questions we are asked most about gorilla trekking, costs, safety, health and booking a safari in Uganda and Rwanda.
Can't find your question here? Send it through our enquiry form or on WhatsApp, and a member of our Entebbe team will answer, usually within a few hours.
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Our Entebbe team answers questions every day about permits, routes, lodges and costs. Send us a message through the enquiry form or on WhatsApp, and we'll reply with practical, honest advice. For deeper reading, see our guides:
US$800 in Uganda (US$600 in April, May and November) and US$1,500 in Rwanda for foreign non-residents. Reduced rates apply to residents and African citizens. See our gorilla permits page.
Not formally, but trackers locate the families every morning and success rates are above 95%. In Uganda, UWA refunds part of the permit if a full day's search fails.
Moderately fit. Treks last 1–7 hours on steep, muddy ground at altitude. Porters and walking sticks make a big difference, and rangers try to match families to fitness.
15 years in both Uganda and Rwanda. For chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, it is 12.
The rule is to keep about 7 metres away, but gorillas sometimes approach closer themselves. Rangers will guide you.
June–September and December–February are driest. April, May and November are quieter and cheaper, with US$600 Uganda permits.
2–3 days for gorillas alone from Kigali, 3–5 days from Entebbe, 7–10 days for gorillas, chimps and wildlife, and 12+ days to combine Uganda and Rwanda comfortably.
Uganda costs less and has more variety (chimps, big game, the Nile). Rwanda is faster to reach from the airport. Many guests do both.
Roughly US$150–250 per person per day for budget, US$250–450 for mid-range and US$500–1,000+ for luxury, plus permits. Group size and season matter too.
Yes. Zanzibar is a short flight from Entebbe or Kigali, and Lake Kivu and Lake Bunyonyi offer lake beaches within the itinerary.
Yellow fever is required for Uganda and may be requested for Rwanda. Talk to a travel clinic about malaria prophylaxis and routine vaccines.
Uganda's tourist routes are widely travelled and generally safe with normal precautions. Our guides monitor conditions and follow official advice.
No. Anyone showing signs of illness may be refused on the day, because gorillas can catch human respiratory infections.
Waterproof boots, long sleeves and trousers, a rain jacket, gardening gloves, layers, and a camera without flash. See our packing list.
Send an enquiry with your dates and interests. We confirm permit availability, send a costed itinerary, and secure the booking with a deposit and full permit payment.
A deposit of 30–50% secures lodges and services, and gorilla and park permits must be paid in full at booking. The balance is due before the safari starts. See our booking terms.
By bank transfer or other methods listed on your invoice. We confirm every payment in writing.
Cancellations follow our booking terms, and permit refunds follow UWA and RDB rules. We strongly recommend travel insurance with cancellation cover.
Tipping is appreciated, not compulsory. Our tipping guide gives typical amounts for driver-guides, rangers, porters and lodge staff.
For most first-timers, a 7–10 day trip combining gorillas in Bwindi, chimps in Kibale and game drives in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls.
Yes. Combine Bwindi with Queen Elizabeth and Murchison, and add Ziwa for rhinos, or Rwanda's Volcanoes and Akagera.
From about 1 to 7 hours, including one hour with the gorillas. It depends on where the family is that day.
Game drives and boat trips need no special fitness. Gorilla, chimp and volcano treks need moderate fitness, and porters help.
Yes. Many of our guests travel alone. Private safaris mean you have your own guide and vehicle.
US dollars in newer notes (2013 or later) for tips and extras, plus local currency from ATMs for small purchases.
Most lodges have Wi-Fi, but speeds vary, and remote parks may have limited signal. Local SIM cards help.
All our guides speak English. Other languages can sometimes be arranged on request.
Yes. Tell us in advance about vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal or other needs, and we inform every lodge.
Treks go ahead in the rain. Bring a rain jacket and waterproof bag. Gorillas often shelter, which can make for close encounters.
Habituated gorillas are calm around people. Follow the rangers' instructions and never approach closer than advised.
Drones are not allowed in national parks without special permission, and they require registration in both countries.
One person. All our tours are private and run on your dates.
Yes. Airport pick-up and drop-off at Entebbe or Kigali are included in our tours.
Yes. Zanzibar is a short flight away, and we can advise on flights and connections.
Four to six months for Uganda in peak season, and 6–12 months for Rwanda. In the green season, a few weeks' notice is often enough.
15 for gorillas, and 12 for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Golden monkey and other activity limits are set by each park.
Yes. Many visitors trek twice, meeting different families, often in different sectors or countries.
On road safaris, luggage is flexible. On domestic flights, it is usually limited to about 15 kg per person in soft bags.
A private 4x4 safari vehicle, usually a Land Cruiser or extended safari van, with a pop-up roof and window seats.
Most do, although some remote lodges use solar power or generators at set times, and hot water may be on request.
Strongly recommended, including medical evacuation, trip cancellation and permit cover.
Tell your guide immediately. They know the nearest clinics and hospitals, and our office will support you.
Yes, at lodges and often in the safari vehicle. Bring a power bank and plug adaptor.
Not practically. Kibale and Bwindi are 5–6 hours apart. Plan separate days.
Yes, especially in lower, warmer areas. Use repellent, sleep under nets, and take malaria prevention as advised.
Yes. Carry US dollars in small, newer notes and some local currency for tips, porters, drinks and souvenirs.
We advise on routes and airports. Most guests book international flights themselves once permit dates are confirmed.
Yes. Your guide and our Entebbe office are available throughout your trip.
Group size reduces the per-person cost, because vehicle costs are shared. Ask us for a quote.
Tell us or your guide as soon as possible. We'll adjust your pick-up and, if needed, rearrange the first day of your itinerary.
A deposit secures the booking, and the balance is due before the safari. Permits must be paid in full at booking.
Yes. Lodges provide vegetarian and vegan meals with advance notice.
Yes. Fly into one country and out of the other. Southern Bwindi and Volcanoes are only a few hours apart.
Tell us your dates, budget and interests. We reply within 24 hours with a costed itinerary.
